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Cimetidine

The role of Cimetidine in the treatment of IC was first reported from Canada by Professor Morales when he reported a 67% success rate in relieving the symptoms of IC (pain, urgency and frequency) in a small group of patients previously unresponsive to all forms of oral and topical therapy.

A larger open study carried out in the United Kingdom has produced similar results, but in the absence of a comparative control group the results must be interpreted with caution.

In this recent study 69 patients (63 females and 6 males) with IC were treated with Cimetidine 200mg three times a day. The patients in the study were aged 24-63 years (mean age 41 years) ; 68% of the treated patients had received other forms of therapy over period of 1-10 years without relief of their symptoms.

The 69 patients were treated with Cimetidine over periods ranging from 3-34 months (a mean treatment period of 10.4 months). As result of the Cimetidine treatment 51 patients (74%) had symptomatic relief; 34 (49%) had complete relief of all symptoms and the remaining 17 (24.6%) had complete relief of pain but still had symptoms of frequency and urgency. Twelve patients (17%) had no relief of symptoms and discontinued the therapy. During the treatment period 3 patients had to discontinue their therapy as a result of side effects ; two patients developed skin rashes and a further patient had a problem of compatibility of Cimetidine with other forms of therapy. The final three patients became refractory (stopped seeing any benefit) to Cimetidine over a treatment period of 6-9 months.


The results of Cimetidine treatment in IC are encouraging with 74% of treated patients having symptomatic relief and the simplicity of treatment makes Cimetidine a useful addition in the treatment of patients with IC.


Henry Lewi - A Wee Ray of Hope (Issue 16), Summer 1998